BETHEL – By summer, people living in Albany and Mason townships may have to rely solely on Stoneham Rescue and Waterford for fire and ambulance protection.
Bethel, which provides the services for Mason and the northern half of Albany, is considering ending that coverage following a clash over billing issues between Oxford County Clerk Carole Mahoney, county commissioners and Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole.
Cole claims the county has refused to fully fund what he says is its proportional share of the 2006-07 fire and ambulance coverage for the two unorganized territories.
Mahoney said Wednesday in Paris that commissioners didn’t object to the ambulance portion, which totals $3,792, but refused to pay $28,320 for the fire portion.
“That’s too big of a jump,” she said.
From 1998 through 2003, the county paid Bethel $4,000 per year for fire coverage in Albany and Mason, Mahoney said.
In 2004, it increased to $16,179, stayed the same in 2005, then jumped to $28,320.
Cole said the hike represents debt service on a fire truck and Bethel’s new fire station.
“I expect the unorganized territory to bear a proportional cost of the station. If they don’t like it, hey, build your own,” he said recently.
Commissioners agreed to pay only what they budgeted, $17,803.
Per state law, county commissioners act as municipal officers for unorganized territories and prepare a municipal services budget for such territories within the county.
In a Saturday memo to selectmen, who were to discuss the issue last Monday night, Cole said that refusal to pay $28,320 created a dilemma for Bethel.
Town officials could accept less than fair share and force Bethel taxpayers to pay more, “or consider termination of coverage to an area of several hundred year-round and seasonal homes where no practical alternatives for fire/ambulance service exists,” he stated.
“We’ve got to respect the Bethel taxpayer, that’s who creates the system. For every dollar that Bethel is shorted by the UT, that’s got to be made up by Bethel taxpayers,” Cole said Tuesday.
Mahoney said she had no quarrel with Cole, adding, “He’s just doing his job.”
“Our concern is, what is it going to be next time? There should be some three- or four-year contract,” she added.
Selectmen will continue discussion of the matter later this month.
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